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George C. Burmeister diary, 1864
1864-05-17
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the rebels since we saw them advance in column to our right. We had to advance on a prairie toward them, but behold our astonishment when we reached the timber, to find the rebels were gone. Our skirmishers pursued them a short distance then returned and (one or two words illegible) moved on towards bayou De Glaze. The loss in our regt. is three severely wounded. Most of a the other regts. lost more than we did. Our entire loss nor the rebels is not known. The rebels are said to have from 15,000 to 21,000 men, commanded by Gens. Major, Ph and Balx with 40 pieces of artillery, of the latter they made excellent use. The artillery duel was very fierce for awhile. We crossed the bayou without further opposition, and camped at 9 P.M. about 12 mines from Simsport. May 17 Lay in camp till 9 1/2 A.M. to permit the other troops and all the train to pass, we took the rear. I saw my old teacher Lt. Dillman, and several other friends in the 24th Iowa Inf. At the time above mentioned we were marched at first in quick time, then in double quick to the rear, over the plank road about two miles, where we found the cavalry in position with their artillery, in a lane to the right of the main road. A position which could not have been held by them, and if the rebels had made a charge they might have lost their battery. We arrived opportunely to open our artillery on the advancing rebels. The firing was very rapid for several minutes It checked them, and they fell back. Their battery kept
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the rebels since we saw them advance in column to our right. We had to advance on a prairie toward them, but behold our astonishment when we reached the timber, to find the rebels were gone. Our skirmishers pursued them a short distance then returned and (one or two words illegible) moved on towards bayou De Glaze. The loss in our regt. is three severely wounded. Most of a the other regts. lost more than we did. Our entire loss nor the rebels is not known. The rebels are said to have from 15,000 to 21,000 men, commanded by Gens. Major, Ph and Balx with 40 pieces of artillery, of the latter they made excellent use. The artillery duel was very fierce for awhile. We crossed the bayou without further opposition, and camped at 9 P.M. about 12 mines from Simsport. May 17 Lay in camp till 9 1/2 A.M. to permit the other troops and all the train to pass, we took the rear. I saw my old teacher Lt. Dillman, and several other friends in the 24th Iowa Inf. At the time above mentioned we were marched at first in quick time, then in double quick to the rear, over the plank road about two miles, where we found the cavalry in position with their artillery, in a lane to the right of the main road. A position which could not have been held by them, and if the rebels had made a charge they might have lost their battery. We arrived opportunely to open our artillery on the advancing rebels. The firing was very rapid for several minutes It checked them, and they fell back. Their battery kept
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